Korean delight

Thursday

Nov 22, 2012 at 12:01 AM

It's unfortunate that Korean restaurants are not prevalent in these parts, although at least two have sprung up in recent years in Stockton. Two years ago, Stockton greeted Seoul Soon Dubu Tofu House on the Miracle Mile. Now there's a second option in the downtown movie complex.

The Record

It's unfortunate that Korean restaurants are not prevalent in these parts, although at least two have sprung up in recent years in Stockton. Two years ago, Stockton greeted Seoul Soon Dubu Tofu House on the Miracle Mile. Now there's a second option in the downtown movie complex.

It was to this latter option - Q's Korean BBQ - that we trooped Sunday for lunch before a matinee showing of "Lincoln." The small restaurant is located between two larger eateries, Misaki Sushi and Bar on one side, Moo Moo's Burger Barn on the other.

After entering Q's, we were greeted promptly and offered the option of the all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue or ordering off the menu.

We briefly considered the all-you-can-eat choice because we can pack it away with the best of them and the prospect of sitting at a cook-it-yourself table gorging ourselves endlessly on items like beef short ribs, baby octopus and pork belly made our eyes brim with tears of joy. But the price ($21.99 a person) was a deterrent, and we decided to save this gluttonous repast for a weekday lunch, when the price dips to $14.99.

Once we passed on the all-you-can-eat option, we were escorted to a table toward the back of the restaurant and handed a menu loaded with a diverse array of choices.

Did we want to try one of the tofu soup choices? Did we want to sample an option that would make International House of Pancakes worthy of its name (hae mul pa jun, described on the menu as a Korean-style pancake with green onion and seafood)?

Or did we want to take a side trip to Japan and lunch on ramen (and by ramen, we are not talking about our beloved 20-cent packages of Top Ramen but about sizable bowls of steaming broth loaded not only with noodles but with meat, seafood, vegetables or dumplings)?

The answers to these questions were yes, yes and yes.

But tough choices must be made, and the bibimbap was calling our name. First came the ban ch'an, seven small side dishes with assorted pickled and spiced vegetables and noodles. The best-known ban ch'an is kimchi, a spicy cabbage concoction.

The bibimbap arrived soon thereafter in large serving bowls - rice topped with vegetables, marinated beef and, yes, a fried egg. The best course of action is to mix it all up, add the accompanying hot sauce to taste (liberally, we suggest), and enjoy. A stone-pot version of bibimbap ($12.99) in which the rice is very crispy also is offered.

The garden-variety bibimbap is quite the deal at $8.99, and we highly recommend it to downtown workers eager for a hearty, filling and delicious lunch or to moviegoers before or after their show.

The third person in our group ordered the beef bulgogi and also was not disappointed. An ample portion of thinly sliced, marinated beef arrived on a platter, with rice on the side. As with the weekend all-you-can-eat option, the weekend price for the bulgogi ($16.99) was a bit startling. It's offered during the week as a lunch special for $9.99.

Based on our limited sampling of the menu at Q's, we give it a strong recommendation. For those new to Korean cuisine, the staff is very friendly and willing to answer all questions.